In recent years, the NFL has taken a page out of the MLB and NBA's book. Gone are the days of the NFL trade deadline passing without much action. Nowadays, contending teams operate as clear-cut buyers, and almost anybody with Super Bowl aspirations is going to make additions at the trade deadline. So, how did the contending teams grade out for the deals they made this year?
Buffalo Bills
The story has been the same in Buffalo for years. Year in and year out, the Bills have a dominant rushing attack and a quarterback named Josh Allen who can do special things that lead to victory. It has resulted in a lot of regular season wins. However, come playoff time, the Bills have consistently fallen short, largely because the defense hasn't hit the mark.
The recipe seemed to be the same this year. Buffalo is 7-1, which is tied for the best mark in football. However, their passing defense ranks just 30th. At some point, likely in the postseason, that was going to catch up to the team. However, the Bills did their best to ensure history doesn't repeat itself. They diagnosed their weakness and went out and traded for arguably the best defensive back on the trading block: Amani Hooker.
The former Tennessee Titans safety is in the midst of his best season. He has five interceptions on the year, including three in a game against Joe Burrow. The ball-hawking nature he showed against one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, and one the Bills could certainly run into in the playoffs, should give Buffalo more optimism that the defense can hold up and make the big plays when it matters most.
Grade: A
New England Patriots
Not every contender made a deal at the NFL trade deadline, and that includes the New England Patriots. Determining whether that was the right call or not is easier said than done. On the one hand, the Patriots have been one of the streakiest teams in the NFL this year. The team got off to an incredibly slow start before heating up and being one of the highest scoring teams in the league from Week 4 to Week 8. Then this past week, the Patriots were absolutely blown out.
Adding another player could have helped bring stability to New England. On the other hand, the Patriots have already proven they can get to the Super Bowl with their current roster, which was built by a number of prior trade and free agency additions. Yet another big move could have been overkill.
Grade: C
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals were another team that didn't make a NFL trade deadline acquisition, but it wasn't for lack of trying. In fact, the Bengals agreed on the details of a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles in which they would have added Arnold Ebiketie, but they backed out of the deal before it was made official.
The trade would have brought in edge rushing depth at the cost of a sixth-round pick, but the Bengals realized that Ebiketie was signed as a compensatory free agent by the Eagles, meaning the Bengals would have lost their third-round compensatory draft pick for Trey Hendrickson.
That fact made adding Ebiketie not worth it, and the Bengals were right to back out of the deal. However, they get a poor trade grade because they probably should have known that to begin with, and even after realizing their mistake, it would have been smart to find defensive help elsewhere. The Joe Burrow, Tee Higgins, Ja'Marr Chase combination has never been better, and it would be a shame if defense is what costs them going forward again.
Grade: D-
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars were the biggest NFL trade deadline buyers this year. They started by trading second and fifth-round picks for Jessie Bates before moving a sixth-rounder for Davon Godchaux. Finally, the Jaguars moved a 2027 first-rounder and a 2029 second-round pick for Jordan Davis.
That was quite a haul and proved that Jacksonville is all in on a championship. After all, they are one of just four teams without a Super Bowl appearance in franchise history. The Bates deal bolsters the secondary. Jacksonville was already third in interceptions, and now opposing teams will really have a tough time throwing the ball because the safety has long been considered one of the best players at his position. Bates has lost a step, but he still has enough left in the tank to improve the Jaguars' championship outlook this year before he hits free agency in the offseason.
Likewise, run defense was already a strength in Jacksonville, but now opponents are really going to struggle to move the ball on the ground. Godchaux holds his own in the defensive interior, and Davis is one of the best running-stopping defensive tackles in the NFL. The near 350-pounder is underrated in other aspects of his game, too, and he has a winning track record as someone who won a championship in college and at the professional level. That is exactly what the Jaguars needed.
It can also be argued that the Jaguars overpaid. A second-rounder was a little bit rich for Bates, considering he is a rental and on the downhill turn of his career. And both a first and a second-round pick is definitely a lot for a defensive tackle, especially one best known for clogging running lanes. Even so, the Jaguars might have improved more than any other team during the trade deadline, and they really can't be blamed for going all in.
Grade: B+
Denver Broncos
Everyone assumed the Denver Broncos would make a move for a player on offense. They were linked to superstar skilled position players such as Trey McBride and Jonathan Taylor, but ultimately, the teams that employed those players decided to hold onto them.
The Broncos didn't give up on the deadline, though. They instead went and added depth to their only defensive position that was thin. The Broncos traded fourth and fifth-round picks for linebacker Daiyan Henley. With Patrick Surtain II, Riley Moss, Brandon Jones, Ja'Quan McMillian, and Talonoa Hufanga, the Broncos have arguably the best secondary in the NFL. The pass rush that includes Jonathan Cooper, Zach Allen, and Nik Bonitto nearly broke the sack record last year and is still going strong.
The team had next to no help at linebacker behind Justin Strnad and Alex Singleton, though. Enter Henley, a former captain of the Los Angeles Chargers who has 301 tackles over the last two and a half seasons. The linebacker core is now just as deep as the other defensive position groups. More offensive help would have been nice for a unit that struggles until crunch time, but Henley was a good get for Denver.
Grade: B+
Kansas City Chiefs
Remember the good old days when the Kansas City Chiefs were whipping deep balls to Tyreek Hill? The Patrick Mahomes passing attack has been good in the years since, but not quite as unstoppable as it once was. The Chiefs have spent years trying to fix that, but to no avail. Now, they just added a receiver who will help out in a big way.
Josh Downs isn't the burner Hill was, but he certainly can help out when it comes to making big plays down the field, and that was needed with Tyquan Thornton sidelined. The slot receiver really thrives as a route runner, though. Mahomes has never really had a player like Downs who can get open in the intermediate part of the field so much, outside of all-time great tight end Travis Kelce, of course.
Together, Kelce and Downs are going to be a nightmare for opposing offenses to slow down, especially when paired with the physicality of Rashee Rice and the speed and gadget ability of Xavier Worthy. Now, 50-touchdown seasons in which Mahomes is executing on long bomb after long bomb may be a thing of the past, but the QB is still one of the best in the league, and giving him help made sense. The Chiefs are in the midst of a dynasty, and this trade only enhances that.
Grade: A+
Chicago Bears
Now, the Chicago Bears' trade for Jefferey Simmons didn't happen on deadline day, and was instead executed a little over a week beforehand. Still, this was arguably the biggest in-season deal of the year and ensures Chicago is firmly in contention. Of course, with Caleb Williams at quarterback, a surplus of weapons around him, and Ben Johnson calling the plays, the offense is going to be great.
The team needed a true difference maker on defense, though, and they got just that in Simmons. In two games with the Bears, the defensive tackle already has two sacks, illustrating that he will do just what the Bears envisioned when they gave up two first-round picks for him.
Now, trading two top-32 picks for an interior defensive linemen is unprecedented, but Simmons is that level of game-changer to where it is worth it. Plus, he is under contract for the foreseeable future. The Bears deserve a B+ for adding a bona fide superstar.
Grade: B+
Detroit Lions
Safety additions were the hot trend for contending teams at the NFL trade deadline. Like the Bills and Jaguars, the Detroit Lions added help in their last line of defense. They gave up a sixth-round pick for Andre Cisco. Now, Cisco isn't the level of player that Hooker and/or Bates are, but he also was the cheapest option.
In fact, Cisco was a pretty good value get. The safety had been a full-time starter for the Jaguars and New York Jets since his rookie year, until this season. He is still just 26 years old and just a few years removed from back-to-back multi-interception seasons. This trade isn't the craziest, and the Lions' defense is still an area of concern, but it helps Detroit for little cost.
Grade: C+
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers have been red hot lately. Their play would indicate that they didn't need to make a trade deadline trade, and they, in fact, did not. Plus, it isn't like the team hasn't been willing to make moves recently. It wasn't that long ago that they traded for Micah Parsons in one of the biggest deals in recent NFL history.
Of course, every fanbase wants their contending team to make trade deadline additions, but of the teams that didn't, the Packers made arguably the most sense.
Grade: C+
San Francisco 49ers
In the weeks leading up to the NFL trade deadline, the San Francisco 49ers reunited with DeForest Buckner. It cost a fourth-round pick for the 6-foot-7 defensive tackle who was with the 49ers from 2016 to 2019. When he was traded to the Indianapolis Colts in 2020, he netted the 49ers a first-round pick. He seems like he still should have been worth more than a fourth.
The three-time Pro Bowler is familiar with his old-new team, and he provides pass rush and an ability to bat balls. This trade was followed up by a deadline deal for Keenan Allen, which cost a sixth-round pick. The 49ers' receiving corps has been ravaged by injuries, and the team needed depth.
Even at age 34, Allen is still one of the best route runners in the NFL, and he has sure hands. His 40 receptions are the 21st most in the NFL, proving that the aging veteran still has something left in the tank. Now, the 49ers had to give up draft capital for a player who was available as a free agent late in the offseason, but the team has been too good to let receiver injuries hold them back. Brock Purdy is in the midst of an MVP-caliber season, and he has proven he isn't a game-manager who relies on talent around him. Every quarterback needs help, though, and the 49ers were smart for making both of their trades.
Grade: B+
Seattle Seahawks
Last year, a trade deadline deal for Rashid Shaheed helped the Seattle Seahawks win the Super Bowl. They made an even bigger deal this go-around, trading for Quenton Nelson, arguably the best offensive guard of a generation. The cost was third and fifth-round picks. That is solid value for someone of Nelson's reputation, even if he is past his prime.
The Seahawks just returned Zach Charbonnet and Jadarian Price from injury. Sam Darnold is currently sidelined but nearing a return, too. These running backs need help, considering Charbonnet no longer has Kenneth Walker to lean on and Price is just a rookie. And Darnold needs to stay upright. The Nelson trade warrants a grade of B+.
Grade: B+
Los Angeles Rams
Les Snead always makes trades, and for that reason, it was somewhat surprising to see the Los Angeles Rams not make a trade deadline deal. However, the Rams have probably already made enough trades. In the offseason, the Rams made blockbuster deals for Myles Garrett as well as Trent McDuffie. Other big moves such as the free agent signing of Jaylen Watson and the unretirement of Aaron Donald made for what most considered to be the best offseason in the NFL.
However, the Rams have been somewhat of a disappointment so far, but that is mainly due to injuries. The aforementioned defensive stars have all spent time sidelined, and receivers Davante Adams and Puka Nacua are currently on the mend. What the Rams need is for their veterans to get healthy ahead of the playoffs, not necessarily the addition of even more talent.
Everyone knows Snead doesn't like draft picks, but he can't trade every single one. Staying pat was the right call for the Rams.
Grade: B